The end of the year is quickly approaching and for many, the winter holiday festivities are well underway. From parties to potlucks, delicious holiday treats can turn into trouble for family and friends if we’re not careful to follow key food safety tips. Whether transporting, preparing, or serving food this year, there are things we can all do to overcome holiday food safety challenges and prevent foodborne illness.

It’s not easy being small. Retail small businesses face myriad challenges from cash flow to managing inventory and now, during the peak of the holiday season, the surge in e-commerce makes packing and shipping a major pressure point.

I had the privilege of speaking at the inaugural Companies Vs. Climate Change conference last week on a topic that is near and dear to me: prevention of food waste. I wanted to illustrate the point that by reducing food waste, you not only conserve resources, but you are taking a tangible step to combat climate change.

You recall the historic outcome from COP21, which we collectively know as the Paris Agreement. Early in November, we witnessed it enter into force and at this year’s COP22, the discussion around climate change continued as leaders determined how to best implement objectives of the agreement – a pivotal piece in guaranteeing the agreement’s effectiveness.

The 17th edition of the World Hospitality Awards took place earlier this week – an annual event which celebrates all that is great within the global hospitality industry. The event was held in the glorious Salon Opéra of the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, the largest ballroom in Paris.

I recently attended Asociación Argentina de Enfermeros en Control de Infecciones (ADECI), an infection prevention-focused congress in Argentina, to discuss the role of the environment in contributing to healthcare associated infections (HAIs). Published studies have provided strong evidence that the environment plays a role in the risk of certain HAIs. Both hand hygiene and disinfection of environmental surfaces are key, as healthcare workers touch an array of objects, people and surfaces throughout the day.